Apparatus for the treating of sheet material



Nov. 29, 1932. WQQDHEAD ETAL I 1,889,009

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATING OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. '18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS'. 916 BY A a, Jove; 4 Mn ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 29, 1932. H. A. WOODHEAD El AL 1,389,009

APPARATUS FQR THE TREATING OF SHEET IATBRIAL Filed Feb. 18, 1930 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Q.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 ;;-;'ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY A. WOOI JHEAD AND MADISON R. KELLY, GRANITEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNORS TO THE GREGG DYEIN G COMPANY, OF GRANITEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA,

A CORPORATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATING OF SHEET MATERIAL Application filed February 18, 1930. Serial No. 429,440.

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved apparatus primarily intended for use in connection with the dyeing and/or treatment of fabrics.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus by means of which the material will be uniformly and rapidly impregnated with dye without any danger of the cloth becoming streaked.

'A further object of the invention is that of providing an apparatus for treating sheetmaterial, which apparatus will embody relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction, these parts furnishing an apparatus operating over long periods of time with freedom from difliculty and with a minimum of attention.

With these and further objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating one practical embodi-' ment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of the ap-;

stuff and which have a different aflinity for I the fabric fiber. As a consequence, unless the liquor comes into substantially imediate contact with the fiber of the material and penetrates the same. a uniform result will not be had and a variation in the color results due to the different rates of exhaustion of the different dye stufi's. Additionally, in use, dye liquids tends to produce foam which forms in a thick coating on the surface of the liquor. If this foam comes into contact with the cloth before the latter is immersed within the liquor, it coats the cloth and prevents the dye from properly penetrating, causing spots and streaks which are incapable of being removed in later processes.

Additionaly, if foam is allowed to accumulate, it will rise to such a height within the vat that it will be carried with the cloth in the passage of the latter from the apparatus, again resulting in a marking of the cloth. This is particularly noticeable as the foam oxidizes. 1

In order to overcome these difiiculties, the present invention contemplates the provision of apparatus by means of which the dye is distributed and introduced into the vat or dyeing chamber in such manner that a uniform flow is maintained without eddy currents and that uneven exhaustion ofthe dye stuff is overcome.

Additionally, by means of the present invention, apparatus is provided which not alone prevents the foam from coming into contact with the cloth, but also assures a thorough penetration of the material fibers with the dye liquor. i

Finally, by means of the present invention, an apparatus is furnished which will serve to eliminate-the foam from the body of the apparatus and will also maintain the cloth feeding mechanism free from liquor films which might serve to streak the material.

Thus, referring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 5 indicates a container providing a dye pad or trough and within which there is preferably disposed a member 6 divided into a plurality of compartments. Above these a manifold 7 is arranged for the passage and distribution of the dye stuffs from a source of supply (not shown). This manifold preferably has associated with it nozzles 8, one for each of the compartments, andvalves may be provided in conjunction with these nozzles so that the flow of dye may be cont-rolled into each compartment. member'6 is formed with a slot 9 in its base and extending from each compartment so that dye stuff may flow therethrough into the body of the receptacle 5. Thus, the dye flows from the nozzles and by gravity through the slots 9, and by adjusting the flow fromthe nozzles 8 the setting up of currents is prevented. Also lack of uniformity of color due to uneven exhaustion is overcome..

The

The web of material enters the receptacle 5 and passes around a roller 11.

' Thence, it moves between the squeeze rollers 12 to further apparatus (not shown) wherein its treatment is completed. The liquor in the receptacle 5 foams during the dyeing of the material and according to the present invention, it is intended that the foam shall be revented from contacting with the material. gvith this in mind, one practical form of apparatus may be provided by the use of cooperating and preferably flexible doctor blades 18 which are normally in contact with each other at the surface of the dye when no cloth is in the machine. These blades extend downwardly into the body of the dye a sufficient distance to assure their lower edges being below the lowest level at which the dye is permitted to run. Suitable materials for constructing these blades may be for example sheet metal and one-sixteenth inch'sheet rubber with a fabric insert. A preferred form of blade may also be formed of one-sixteenth inch sheet packing. Obviously, as the cloth enters the receptacle 5 between the blades 13, the latter act as dams and prevent the foam from coming into contact with the cloth. As a consequence, the dye liquor penetrates the cloth evenly, and this prevents spots and streaks from appearinguponthe surfaces of the cloth.

Under the best of circumstances, foam will form upon the surface of the dye liquor and it is proposed that this foam be removed before it reaches such a height that it will overflow the innermost doctor blade 13. Also, the foam will be carried with the material between the squeeze rolls 12 again resulting in a streaking of the material. With a view to overcoming any difiiculty in this connection, it is proposed to employ, for example, a conveyor 1.4: in the form of a shaft having thereon a helically disposed blade. This blade is divided into two portions extending into opposite directions from the center of the machine. Obviously the blade might be modified in numerous respects and any desired form of removing mechanism might be furnished to eliminate the foam. Hpwever, as illustrated, with the shaft of the conveyor rotating, the foam as it forms upon the upper surface of the liquor will be continuously displaced towards the side of the receptacle and over the edge of this trough where it may collect in a, pan 15. "With a view to conserving the dye liquor eliminated from the material by the rolls 12, a blade 16 may be caused to bear against the under surface of the lowermost roll thus returning this liquor to the trough.

Reviewing briefly the operation of the apparatus, it will be appreciated that the dye liquor is distributed evenly to flow into the trough provided by the receptacle 5 and that the amount of such flow may be controlled resaooe accurately. The material,upon moving into the trough, is fully immersed and does not come in contact with foam. As a consequence, the dye evenly penetrates all of the material fibers. Further, such foam as does form is quickly removed so that there is no danger of the foam film reaching a thickness such, that there would be danger of its detrimentally coming in contact with the material.

Thus, among others, the several objects specifically afore referred to are achieved. In conclusion, it will be understood that certain of the mechanisms herein referred to might, under varying circumstances, be eliminated, and that the structure of these mechanisms might be altered in numerous instances.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus of the character described including a trough to receive material treating fluid, means providing a plurality of compartments in association with said trough and having communication therewith adjacent their lower ends and below the level of fluid within said trough, and means for introducing fluid into each of said compartments.

2. An apparatus of the character described including a trough to receive material treatin'g fluid, means providing a plurality of compartments in association with said trough and having communication therewith adjacent their lower ends and below the level of fluid within said trough, and a manifold in communication with each of said compartments and to introduce fluid into the same.

f 3. An apparatus of the character described including a trough to receive material treating fluid, means providing a plurality of compartments in association with said trough and having communication therewith adjacent their lower ends and below the level of fluid within said trough, and a manifold extending adjacent said compartments and individually controllable nozzles connected to said manifold and extending to points adjacent which fluid may be discharged therefrom into said compartments.

4:. Dyeing apparatus comprising a trough containing a plurality of compartments, nozzles associated with each other of said compartments for introducing dye fluid therein a slot in one side and adjacent the bottom of said trough, a receptacle for receiving dye material from said trough through said slot, means for passing a strip of material through said receptacle, and normally contacting doctor blades arranged above and below the surface of the fluid in said receptacle for introducing said material into the fluid at a point below its upper level.

5. Dyeing apparatus comprising atrough containing a plurality of compartments, nozzles associated with each of said compartments for introducing dye fluid therem, a slot in one side and adjacent the bottom of said'trough, a receptacle for receivin dye 1 5 material from said trough through sai slot,

means for passing a strip of material through said receptacle, normally contacting doctor blades arranged above and below the surface of the fluid in said receptacle for introducing 9 said material into the fluid at a point below its upper level, and a rotary screw conveyor mounted adjacent the fluid level in said receptacle for removing foam therefrom.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatunes. 4

' HENRY A. WOODHEAD.

MADISON R. KELLY. 

